PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

It’s no secret that sugar is no longer the “treat” or “something” special we all look forward to. It has become a building block of our nutritional pyramid, unfortunately. But before you quickly respond with the “My family doesn’t eat sugar,” I challenge you to look up every label of your everyday essentials and tally the grams in each serving throughout the day. You will be shocked, to say the least. 

Sugar has become a powerhouse ingredient in many foods to keep us hooked and wanting more. With zero nutritional value and myriad adverse effects, I am here to shed some light on this ingredient. (I am not a doctor or the sugar police, so I am not making claims instead of relaying information from the widespread news outlets.)  

Sugar is not only highly addictive but can affect mood and mental health, and is the leading cause of obesity and diabetes in America. It was designed to make people addicted to food and make things sweet and taste better — I know I am in the wrong town to say this, but hello, ketchup. 

The truth is, I partake in a piece of celebratory cake on special occasions; I also make a killer Pavlova and have minor amounts of it in everyday snacks (and by minor, I mean VERY LITTLE). There are also different appropriate amounts and TYPES of sugar in our diets that are OK — there are also better ways to consume sugar, like serving a meal with fiber and protein to decrease the glucose spike (more on this in the next issue). Still, sugar has become a silent ingredient in almost all foods we consume daily, including and mostly in children’s food products, when it doesn’t need to be there.

For example, a Yoplait yogurt can clock around 19 grams of sugar — the same as 8 ounces of Coca-Cola — and I don’t think, as a parent, you would want to consciously feed your child that much sugar for breakfast, though I understand convenience is critical. Another example would be fruit juices; one cup of apple juice has the entire recommended daily serving of sugar – and cereal is one of the worst. Don’t get me started, but I challenge you to read the label.

Children are constantly rewarded with sugar, which is no longer a treat but an expectation in their daily food consumption. Dessert shouldn’t be every single night, but rather a special occasion.

Have you ever given a child sugar and watched their mood go from stable to emotional, tired, sad and grumpy within 20 minutes? That’s the effects of sugar, much like a drug. You witness with your very eyes a high, a comedown and a hangover. If that isn’t frightening to hear, then Halloween is your holiday!

Without going completely rogue and extreme (I already have), I co-sign so many great alternate versions. The good news? I am opening a brick-and-mortar store, Mic’s, in Sewickley. This upscale micro grocer has everything you need to create a nourishing meal: everyday “better for you” essentials, a full-service smoothie, tonic & coffee bar, and nutritious, seasonal grab-and-go fare. (Think salads, bowls and proteins!) 

I am trying to do my part by providing better-for-you alternatives for some of your favorite products while eliminating the unwanted and, quite literally, unneeded sugar in your favorite snacks, chips and everyday food items. Our products go through many filters to determine why we carry them and think they are great. 

Below, you will see some of our approved sugar swaps to eliminate sugar and harmful dyes, chemicals and processed ingredients with zero purposes other than to make it taste good and be addictive.  

It’s going to be harder for you to accept that a problem exists if there’s no easy solution to that problem. Take baby steps toward decreasing sugar, and you will not be disappointed.

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL BLANEY

Let me know how you like them and shoot me a message and follow me for more yummy recipes and tips @michaelablaney  or subscribe to my newsletter michaelablaney.com

Whoever said no good story started with a salad has never had one of mine. (It was me, I used to say that). 

But here’s the truth: I am not naturally fit or thin and don’t naturally reach for vegetables. I am not a chef, but I’m good at assembling ingredients. I put in the work. I believe in feeling and looking my best — but not compromising!  So, here you will find good ingredients, real wellness, and fun! 

More formally, I cook up clean comfort food, am a passionate health coach, ritual maker and health product queen and a Certified Health Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition with a specialty in hormone health.